Chapter 35
Asoft touch against my cheek pulls me from darkness. I force my heavy eyelids open, blinking to adjust to the dim light. Enzo sits beside me on the bed, his face focused as he gently dabs at my cuts with a damp cloth.
"Enzo?" My voice comes out as a hoarse whisper.
His eyes snap to mine, relief flooding his face. “Livia,” he breathes. "How are you feeling?"
I take stock of my body. Everything aches, but the sharp, stabbing pains have dulled to a manageable throb. "Like I got hit by a truck," I admit. "But better than before."
Enzo's lips curve into a small smile. I then notice the dark circles under his eyes, and his usually immaculate appearance is a bit disheveled. His face has more stubble than usual.
"How long was I out?" I ask, trying to piece together the hazy memories of our escape.
"Two days," Enzo replies, resuming his gentle presses on my face. "The doctor said your body needed time to recover from the trauma, drugs, and blood loss."
I reach up, catching his wrist. His skin is warm beneath my fingers. "Have you been here the whole time?"
Enzo nods, his voice rough with emotion. "I couldn't leave you. Not again."
"Have you at least slept?"
He shakes his head slightly, dabbing at another cut. “No, I was too concerned.”
My heart flutters. This powerful man sits here tending my wounds like I'm made of glass. His touch is so gentle it nearly brings tears to my eyes.
"You look terrible," I whisper, reaching up to touch his face. He catches my hand, pressing a kiss to my palm.
My poor attempt at humor falls flat as pain flashes across his features. "I should have been there sooner. If I hadn't let my pride—"
"Stop." I curl my fingers around his. "You came for me. That's what matters."
He sets aside the cloth and cups my face, careful to avoid the cuts. His blue eyes burn with intensity. "I will always come for you, Livia. Always."
"I'm sorry," I whisper, tears pricking at my eyes. "For everything. The diary, the fight—"
"Shh," Enzo cuts me off, rubbing my face. "None of that matters now. All that matters is that you're safe. That you're here with me."
"Do you mean what you said?" I ask.
"What did I say?"
"That you love me," I say with a slight smile to avoid opening the cut on my lip.
Enzo's eyes darken with an emotion that says it all. "I love you, cara mia. More than I ever thought possible," he says and leans in, pressing a feather-light kiss to my forehead.
"Well, I meant it, too. I do love you. Probably before I even realized I did."
Enzo's eyes soften as he gazes at me, his thumb tracing gentle circles on my cheek.
“Livia,” he murmurs, his voice thick with emotion. "I was so terrified of losing you. When I got that picture..." He trails off, jaw clenching at the memory.
I can see the pain etched into every line of his face, the weight of guilt bearing down on his broad shoulders. It hits me then, just how deeply this man cares for me. How much power I hold over him, the same as he holds over me.
"And when I saw you there, bleeding," Enzo's voice cracks, and he takes a shuddering breath. "I've never been so scared in my life, Livia. The thought of losing you—it felt like my heart was being ripped from my chest. If that's not love, then I don't know what is."
"I'm here," I reassure him, sliding my hand to the nape of his neck. "I'm not going anywhere."
Enzo leans in, resting his forehead against mine. "I swear to you, Livia, I will never let anything happen to you again. I'll burn this city to the ground before I let anyone touch you."
"You know, I've never had anyone take care of me like this," I confess, pressing a soft kiss to his lips, mindful of my busted lip.
"Get used to it," he murmurs, his voice rough with emotion. "I intend to spend the rest of my life taking care of you."
His tenderness fills my heart and soul and causes my eyes to fill with tears.
"Lay with me," I request, shifting slightly in the bed to make room. "Please?"
Enzo hesitates for a moment before nodding. He carefully climbs onto the bed, positioning himself beside me. I turn on my side, wincing slightly at the movement, and Enzo immediately reaches out to steady me.
"Easy," he says, putting a hand on my waist. "Don't strain yourself."
I nestle closer to him, breathing in his familiar scent that never fails to make me feel safe.
"I missed this," I admit. "All I kept thinking about was being in your arms again."
Enzo's grip on me tightens slightly, and I feel him press a kiss to the top of my head.
I tilt my head back to look at him, seeing the intensity burning in his blue eyes. Slowly, I lean in and press a soft kiss to his mouth. Enzo responds immediately, but his touch remains feather-light, careful not to aggravate my injuries.
As we part, I see a flash of desire in his eyes, quickly tempered by concern. "We shouldn't," he starts, but I cut him off with another gentle kiss.
"I need you, Enzo," I whisper against his lips. "I've felt a lot of things recently, but now I want to feel you."
Enzo licks his lips and nods slowly. "Tell me if anything hurts. Promise me."
"I promise," I breathe. "I'm already sore, so might as well add to it," I say with a smile.
Enzo's hands move with exquisite care as he helps me out of the soft pajamas I'm wearing. His touch is loving, fingertips skimming over my skin as if mapping every inch of me. When I'm bare before him, his eyes darken with a mix of desire and fury as he takes in the bruises marring my skin.
"Enzo," I say softly, drawing his attention back to my face. "I'm okay. Really."
He nods, swallowing hard before leaning in to press the softest of kisses to a particularly nasty bruise on my collarbone. "You're so beautiful, Livia. So strong."
His words make my heart happy. I reach for him, tugging gently at his shirt. "Your turn," I say.
Enzo quickly sheds his clothes, and then he's there, skin to skin with me. The warmth of his body seeps into mine, chasing away the lingering chill of fear that's clung to me since the kidnapping.
His hands roam my body with the gentlest of touches, as if I'm made of the finest porcelain. Every caress is a promise of devotion. I let out a soft sigh as his fingers trace the curve of my hip, my body arching into his touch.
"Tell me what you need, cara mia," Enzo says, his breath warm against my neck.
"Just you," I breathe. "All of you."
Enzo shifts, carefully positioning himself above me. His eyes lock with mine as he slowly, so slowly, pushes into me. The stretch and fullness make me gasp, my body welcoming him home.
"Okay?" he asks, concern evident in his voice.
I nod, unable to find words for a moment. "Perfect," I finally manage.
Enzo starts to move, his thrusts slow and gentle, and I feel every inch of him.
It's not the frenzied passion we've shared before, but something deeper, more profound. With every movement, every touch, I feel the strength of his love for me.
I wrap my arms around him, ignoring the twinge in my muscles.
My fingers trace the familiar planes of his back, feeling the power coiled in his body as he holds himself carefully above me.
Each thrust sends a jolt of pleasure through me, and I can feel my body tightening around him, drawing him deeper.
"I love you," I whisper, the words falling from my lips like a prayer. "I love you, Enzo."
His rhythm falters for a moment, and he presses his forehead to mine. "I love you, Livia," he breathes. "More than anything in this world."
We move together, our bodies finding a perfect synchronicity. The pleasure builds slowly, a warmth spreading through me that has nothing to do with physical sensation and everything to do with the emotional connection we're sharing.
The sensation builds, and I can feel my orgasm approaching. My body tenses, and I grasp at Enzo, pulling him closer. "Fuck," I gasp. "I'm close."
He nods, his jaw clenched as he fights to maintain control. "Me too, baby,” he grunts, his voice rough with effort.
I can feel it, the tightening in my core, the heat spreading through my body. My breath comes in short, sharp gasps as I cling to Enzo, my nails digging into his skin. And then it hits me, a wave of pleasure that crashes over me, leaving me gasping and shaking as it overtakes everything.
My body clenches around Enzo, and I can feel him respond, his thrusts becoming faster, more urgent. He buries his face in my neck, his breath hot against my skin as he finds his own release. His body shudders, and he groans my name, his voice raw with emotion.
We cling to each other, and I can feel the aftershocks of our shared pleasure, the pulsing of his cock inside me, the tightening of my body around him. It's intense, overwhelming, and I never want it to end.
Enzo shifts, carefully rolling to the side and pulling me with him. We lie there, our bodies still joined, our hearts racing in tandem. He brushes a strand of hair away from my face, his touch gentle and loving.
"I've never felt anything like that," Enzo says.
I tilt my head back to look at him, seeing the love and devotion in his eyes. "I know what you mean. Only you could make me feel this way, Enzo," I say, my voice serious. "Only you."
We lie there, our bodies entwined, our hearts beating as one. In this moment, nothing else matters. Not the danger, not the fear, not the uncertainty. All that matters is us, and the love that binds us together.
I lie in Enzo's arms, my body still humming from our lovemaking, my mind wandering, and I suddenly remember Alex.
"Enzo," I say, my voice showing my concern. "What happened to Alex? Is he... did he...?" I can't bring myself to finish the question, fear gripping my heart.
Enzo's arms tighten around me slightly. "Alex is alive," he says. "He survived the shooting."
Relief washes over me, so intense that I feel tears prick at my eyes. "Really? Oh, thank God."